Watford vs Luton Town FC (26th Sep 2020)

Match Report | Watford 1-0 Luton Town

The Hatters fall short against rivals Watford at Vicarage Road...

The Hatters suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against rivals Watford in a tightly contested game at Vicarage Road.

Joao Pedro scored the only goal ten minutes before half-time and Town were unable to find an equaliser despite a number of promising chances throughout the 90 minutes.

Manager Nathan Jones made one change from Town’s last league fixture against Derby County – with Ryan Tunnicliffe coming in for the unavailable Glen Rea.

Simon Sluga was called into action early on, saving well from Pedro down low during a cagey opening to the game.

Later in the half, Luke Berry found Harry Cornick with a well-timed ball down the right and he crossed perfectly for James Collins, but from six-yards out, the striker’s effort cannoned off the crossbar and Watford managed to clear.

The hosts took the ball straight up the other end with Ken Sema and he picked out Pedro with a ball into the box, whose shot deflected off Sonny Bradley and past Sluga in the 35th minute.

Watford could have doubled their lead early on in the second half if it wasn’t for some fantastic defending from the Hatters.

Cleverley found space in the middle and picked out Pedro, who flicked first time around the corner for James Garner. Sluga saved the Man United loanee’s effort and birthday boy Martin Cranie blocked Pedro’s effort from the rebound.

Substitute Jordan Clark slipped Collins into the penalty area and the striker made space for himself with a neat cut-back, but his left-footed shot intended for the top corner was too high.

Sluga was alert deep into the second period to save well from Tom Dele-Bashiru, tipping the midfielder’s well-struck effort around the post.

The Hatters continued their quest to find an equaliser and Berry connected well on the volley from the edge of the box, but his shot went over the bar.

Despite late pressure during the five added minutes, Town couldn’t force an opening and suffered a first league defeat of the season.

The Hatters will look to get back to winning ways when they welcome Wycombe Wanderers to Kenilworth Road next Saturday.

Watford: Foster, Ngakia, Kabasele, Cathcart, Wilmot, Sema; Chalobah (Dele-Bashiru 63), Garner, Cleverley (C); Pedro (Deeney 89), Sarr (Quina 90+2).

Subs not used: Bachmann, Dawson, Femenia, Murray.

Goals: Pedro (35)

Town: Sluga, Cranie, Pearson, Bradley (C), Norrington-Davies; Tunnicliffe (LuaLua 78), Berry, Mpanzu, Lee (Clark 58); Cornick, Collins (Hylton 71).

Subs not used: Shea, Moncur, Lockyer, Kioso.

Yellows: Pearson, Norrington-Davies

Referee: John Brooks

Nathan Jones' take on defeat against Watford

The gaffer's verdict on the 1-0 loss at Vicarage Road...

Manager Nathan Jones was honest in his reflection following the Hatters’ 1-0 defeat to Watford this afternoon.

The derby was the first contested since 2006, but Town couldn’t find a way to break through following Joao Pedro’s first-half strike.

Jones said: “To be honest it was probably one of the most lacklustre derbies you will ever see. I’m not sure anyone in the ground actually realised it was a derby. From our players, their players, their manager, their staff. Their staff were appealing for yellow cards on every single challenge and I’m not sure there was a tackle in the game.

“We lost every first header, second ball, we were nowhere near. I think if we had raised it, then we would have got something out of the game, but we couldn’t, we were just flat.

"The game changed on Collo’s chance and then they went up the other end, a minute later, and scored. That was the margins in the game but if I’m honest, without fans here, it just felt like a flat game, real flat game.

“Whatever changes we made, we never did. I felt we were flat today, I was asked in the press yesterday ‘Did we realise if it was more important than them', and I’m not sure anyone in the ground realised it. It felt like a pre-season game, there wasn’t a challenge in the game, there wasn’t anything really, we got in great positions but didn’t finish, we didn’t finish the action in any way and that’s disappointing for us. I didn’t think either side took grip of the game but they had one moment of quality and we couldn’t do that.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBTysGXsjCM – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2QrpfpzBdo – match highlights

Hatters fall to a derby defeat at Watford

Championship: Watford 1 Luton Town 0

Luton's first trip to arch rivals Watford since 2006 ended in disappointment as they fell to a opening league defeat of the season at Vicarage Road this afternoon.

The eagerly-anticipated clash which Town fans had waited almost 15 years for never quite caught fire in the manner they had been hoping, a lack of supporters taking away any edge they might have enjoyed in Hertfordshire, as in truth, the Hornets were never unduly tested on their way to victory.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones made one change from the side who beat Derby County 2-1 last weekend, Ryan Tunnicliffe coming in for Glen Rea, who was forced off in that contest due to feeling light headed in the first period.

Watford had talisman Troy Deeney back on the bench, along with experienced striker Glenn Murray, with keeper Ben Foster the only player from either side to have experienced this fixture previously.

After a tight first 10 minutes, Luton were almost architects of their own downfall, Rhys Norrington-Davies giving possession away with poor pass inside his half.

Tom Cleverly drove forward and teed up Joao Pedro just outside the box, the attacker forcing a sprawling low save from Simon Sluga, who was up to gather the loose ball too.

Barring that one blemish, the Hatters looked solid in the early stages, trying to free Harry Cornick when possible, one impressive break on the right seeing Town's speedster nutmeg Ben Wilmot and reach the byline, his cross cut out Foster.

Cleverley had his own attempt on 20 minutes, Luton deflecting it behind and Ismaila Sarr's header from the set-piece going well wide.

A crazy 60 seconds then saw Town going from a position where they should have been celebrating the lead, only to find themselves falling behind.

Danger man Cornick was once again to the fore, the attacker whipping over a wonderful low cross for Collins who just six yards out, expected to see the net bulge, as has happened on so many occasions for the Hatters.

However, on this occasion, it somehow did not, as Town's striker could only put his effort against the underside of the bar as it rebounded out and away.

Then, not even a minute later, Luton were picking the ball out of the net when Ken Sema did excellently on the left, his cross met by Pedro, who beat Sluga via a slight deflection off skipper Bradley.

After the break, Watford remained in the ascendancy and appeared to have a second when they carved open Town's defence, Pedro slipping in on-loan Manchester United youngster James Garner.

His low drive forced an excellent save from Sluga, with Matty Pearson then throwing himself in the way of Cleverley's follow-up to crucially prevent Watford doubling their advantage.

Jones brought on Jordan Clark for Elliot Lee to try and get a handle on proceedings, and he immediately escaped down the right, only to see his cross easily cut out by Foster.

Town then had easily their best spell of the game, starting to get on the front foot, win their midfield battles and pick up a number of second balls too.

Martin Cranie's intelligent pass freed Collins in the area, as he cut on to his left foot and tried to pick out the top corner, curling well over with team-mates well placed.

That proved to be his last action of the afternoon, Danny Hylton introduced for the final 20 minutes, in search of his first ever goal in the Championship, Kazenga LuaLu swiftly arriving as Joes played his cards.

Town were indebted to Sluga again for being just one behind with 10 to go, the keeper making a fine low stop to his left after Tom Dele Bashiru's effort hit a defender and was arrowing into the bottom corner.

The visitors just couldn't create that clear-cut chance they desired, Luke Berry's ambitious left footed volley unable to test Foster.

Even though Luton flung skipper Sonny Bradley upfront for the latter stages, Town's final ball was poor as they couldn't ever find the head of their captain, falling to defeat.

Hornets: Ben Foster, Jeremy Ngakia, Ben Wilmot, Tom Cleverley (C), Joao Pedro (Troy Deeney 89), Ken Sema, Nathaniel Chalobah (Tom Dele-Bashiru 63), Craig Cathcart, James Garner, Ismaila Sarr (Domingos Quina 90), Christian Kabasele.

Subs not used: Daniel Bachman, Craig Dawson, Glenn Murray, Kiko Femenia.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Martin Cranie, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley ©, Ryan Tunnicliffe (Kazenga LuaLua 77), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Luke Berry, Elliot Lee (Jordan Clark 58), James Collins (Danny Hylton 71), Harry Cornick.

Subs not used: James Shea, Tom Lockyer, Peter Kioso, George Moncur.

Booked: Pearson 75.

Referee: John Brooks.

Luton boss left flabbergasted by 'lacklustre' derby display from his Hatters side at Watford

Town manager reacts to defeat at Vicarage Road

Hatters chief Nathan Jones declared himself 'flabbergasted' by the 'lacklustre' nature of his side's performance during their first 1-0 defeat at arch rivals Watford this afternoon.

A competitive fixture that had lay dormant for almost 15 years had seen plenty of thrills and spills previously, Matthew Spring's stunning 30-yard strike back in 2002 sending Luton on their way to a 2-1 win, or Paul Telfer's double almost a decade earlier ensuring the visitors ran out 4-2 victors.

Both of those games had something this one didn't though, fans, as with the encounter played behind closed doors, it robbed the players of any kind of fervent atmosphere to utilise, the only slight flashpoint coming in stoppage time once Hornets striker Troy Deeney came on, as Rhys Norrington-Davies saw yellow for a challenge on the home striker.

Although pointing out the difference they would have made to the contest, Jones still couldn't understand quite why his side were so below par.

He said: "I thought it was a real lacklustre game, it’s probably the most lacklustre derby you could ever have seen.

"I don’t think anyone in the whole ground – and I include everyone in that, the referee, their staff, who were appealing for yellow cards at every little thing, I don’t think anyone in the ground realised, including the players, that it was actually a derby.

“We were flat, that’s all I can affect, the contrast in performances that we’ve had so far to this one was astounding and it’s difficult to fathom that.

“The game changed in the space of two minutes.

"We had the best chance of the game and hit the bar, they went up the other end and scored and then that was the difference between the two teams.

“We almost went out of the Championship last year and they were a Premier League side, so it least shows we’re competing on that level, but I’m just flabbergasted by the lacklustre performance really.

“I didn’t see that coming because I thought, the worst case scenario, we would be right at it, in terms of intensity, but we weren’t.

"I don’t think the game would’ve been like that if there had been fans here, because they would’ve demanded a more bit and adrenaline might have kicked in, so it did definitely have an effect.

“But I’m just not sure anyone in this place actually realised it was a derby today, you would never have thought it, it looked like a pre-season game and that, for me, is disappointing."

The game was also Town's sixth in the space of 22 days since the season begun, which took its toll according to the boss, who continued: "It hasn't helped having games twice a week as you can do no prep work, do no rest work, you're just dusting people down.

"Especially with it being Man United on Tuesday, because you can't just put a loads of kids out against Man United as you get embarrassed, so we had to make sure we were competitive.

"The exertion in that and then the recovery time meant we came in here slightly undercooked.

"We’ve lost one or two this week in terms of Glen Rea and James Bree, so there was a lot really, but I was just disappointed on our overall performance as I felt we were lacklustre.

"I can’t cane them too much as we probably would have taken six (points) from nine to start the season, it’s just this game I thought we would have been up a bit more for it."

The game was decided in the first half when James Collins hit the bar from close range following Harry Cornick's cross, only to see Watford go straight up the other end and grab the only goal through Joao Pedro.

Jones added: "I'm very rarely angry with James Collins, he’s done brilliantly for me, that’s what happens.

"Sometimes you miss a chance and then they go up the other end, if we’d have scored, we’d have got a minimum point out of the game as their chance probably wouldn’t have happened, it would have changed the direction of the game.

"So it did actually change it, but whether we were better than them to win the game, I’m not saying that, as it was a real dour affair and lacklustre, for whatever reason.

"I’m disappointed as even though we didn't really play well, we got into great opportunities, the amount of crosses we’ve had blocked or Ben Foster’s caught, that we didn't finish the action, didn't finish with an opportunity really disappointed me, as we got into decent areas.

"I have no idea what their budget is, but compared to ours, to show that we’re competing shows that we’ve come a long, long way, but I would have wanted more from us today."